"You know where my brother is?"
Lumine's expression grew serious as she stared intently at Luo Qing.
"Just that a few of my colleagues happened to cross paths with him," Luo Qing replied nonchalantly.
"Help retrieve the Electro Gnosis, and I'll share the information with you. How does that sound?"
"What do you need the Electro Gnosis for?" Lumine asked skeptically.
"Why else? To present it to Her Majesty, of course," Luo Qing said, as though it were the most natural thing in the world. "As the lowest-ranked Harbinger, I need so achievents to earn the Tsaritsa's favor."
His tone was so matter-of-fact it almost convinced them.
While presenting the Electro Gnosis to the Tsaritsa would indeed give Luo Qing a chance to et her again, that wasn't his real goal. His true intention was to use the Electro Gnosis and the Dendro Gnosis to open the sealed divine knowledge capsule before Nahida could.
If he succeeded, perhaps he could bring back Greater Lord Rukkhadevata and finally understand her connection to Nahida.
But those details weren't sothing he was ready to share. Not yet.
"..."
Lumine exchanged a glance with Paimon, unsure of how to respond.
So this was what loyalty to the Tsaritsa looked like? Willing to steal credit from a colleague just to impress her?
"Of course, I'll help you in return," Luo Qing continued, his voice smooth and persuasive. "If you need information, I'll provide it. Lumine, you've been wandering this world for so long—don't you want to see your brother sooner rather than later?"
Lumine remained silent, her mind racing.
Her entire journey was about finding her brother. Now soone was offering her a lead—how could she not be tempted?
After a few monts, she exhaled and spoke.
"What do you need to do?"
"Just keep following the leads you're already investigating. When the ti is right, I'll tell you what to do," Luo Qing said with a slight smile.
After a brief pause, he added, "And one more thing—don't tell Nahida about this."
"Why not?"
"She's just a five-hundred-year-old little loli, isn't she?" Luo Qing said with a light chuckle. "There are things she's better off not knowing for now."
In truth, he still wasn't sure about Nahida's origins. All he knew was that her na had been given by him, and according to Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, her existence was closely tied to him.
But the specifics? Rukkhadevata hadn't explained them before the dream ended.
Was she born naturally? Or was it... sothing else?
Luo Qing didn't want to entertain the thought that he had sohow fathered Nahida with Rukkhadevata in the past. But with thousands of years to account for, who could say for sure?
What if... future went back in ti and ended up having a child with a legendary white-haired Archon? And that child is Nahida?
The thought made him shudder.
Too terrifying. Best not to dwell on it.
Lumine broke the silence, her voice low but firm.
"Luo Qing, you won't harm Suru, will you?"
"Do you think I would, given how I treat Nahida?" Luo Qing countered with a question of his own.
"..."
She hesitated.
It was true that Luo Qing's deanor toward Nahida practically radiated fatherly affection. The warmth in his gaze was enough to make anyone believe he'd never harm her or Suru.
Suddenly, a bold thought struck Lumine.
"Luo Qing... don't tell you plan to add Nahida to your..."
"To my what?" Luo Qing blinked, confused.
"To your... you know..."
"To my what exactly?"
"To your harem!" Lumine's voice rose slightly, her cheeks flushing as she practically shouted the accusation.
"Shh!" Luo Qing quickly made a silencing gesture.
"And no, for the record, Raiden Ei isn't even part of that!"
"Wait, what?" Lumine froze.
So... Makoto is already part of it? Does that an Luo Qing, a Fatui Harbinger, actually hooked up with the forr Raiden Shogun?!
And by the sound of it, Ei wasn't far behind?
What kind of twisted world was this?!
"Also, who said I'd ever do that to Nahida?" Luo Qing frowned, feeling the need to clarify.
"But you..."
"No 'buts.'"
He cut her off firmly. "My feelings for Nahida are pure. No forbidden thoughts involved. Got it?"
"..."
[Lumine's Frustration 1]
Lumine wanted to argue but found herself at a loss for words.
"Alright then, no more nonsense," Luo Qing said, redirecting the conversation. He extended his hand with a calm smile. "Let's toast to a fruitful partnership, shall we?"
"..."
After a mont of hesitation, Lumine shook his hand.
As soon as their hands parted, Luo Qing stood and walked behind Lumine, gently pushing her toward the door.
"Well then, it's late. You two should head back and rest. I won't keep you any longer."
"Huh?"
Before they realized it, Lumine and Paimon found themselves standing outside the door.
"Seriously, Luo Qing?! You're not even offering us a place to stay for the night?" Paimon huffed, stomping her tiny feet.
"Of course, I want to," Luo Qing replied with a sigh of mock regret. "But there aren't any extra rooms. Once I move into my new house, you can stay over. Until then... goodnight!"
With that, he began closing the door.
But just as it was about to shut, a familiar voice called out from behind Lumine and Paimon.
"Huh? Lumine, Paimon, what are you doing here?"
"Hmm?"
They turned around to find Kamisato Ayaka standing nearby, dressed in a Suru-style dancer's outfit.
"Ayaka... you live here too?" Lumine's brain short-circuited.
Ayaka is living with Luo Qing too?! Just how many won is he hiding in this house?!
"I... um..." Ayaka's cheeks turned pink as she lowered her gaze.
"Y-You could say that..."
"..."
[Lumine's Frustration 1]
Lumine turned back toward the house, her gaze burning as she silently vowed to rember Luo Qing's face.
This man... is too much.
"Alright, we're leaving. Goodbye, Ayaka!"
Without giving her friend a chance to respond, Lumine grabbed Paimon and marched away, putting as much distance as possible between herself and Luo Qing.
She feared that if she lingered, she too might end up like the other won in his house.
"Huh?" Ayaka blinked in confusion, watching as Lumine fled.
"Luo Qing, what's going on? Why did they leave so suddenly?"
"No idea," Luo Qing replied with a chuckle. "Maybe they were just in a hurry to get so sleep."
His gaze fell on Ayaka's outfit, and he tilted his head. Sothing about it felt familiar.
"By the way, Ayaka, why are you back so late? And that outfit..."
"I..." Ayaka fidgeted, her blush deepening.
"I was at the Grand Bazaar... spending ti with Nilou. She gave this to as a gift..."
"Nilou, huh?" Luo Qing's eyes lit up with recognition.
No wonder it looked familiar—it's the sa outfit Nilou wears, just in a different color.
"Co on, let's head inside. It's getting cold out here."
"Mm..." Ayaka nodded shyly and followed him in.
---
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